Nonprofit offers free drug help in Albuquerque

Albuquerque's well-known drug problem not only recently caught the eye of an out-of-state nonprofit, but convinced the group to make the area a focal point for its recovery program.

More than 150 people responded to Action 7 News' story previewing the nonprofit Last Chance Intervention, which came to Albuquerque offering one person free help.

The group, co-founded by former drug addicts Clint Richardson and Adam Bartholomew, travels the United States canvassing drug-infested neighborhoods. They find one desperate person in each city to offer help to including free detox and rehabilitation, sober living and more.

As soon as Last Chance Intervention's founders arrived in Albuquerque, they saw a man climbing out of a manhole with his blankets and pillows. That's when they said they realized what they were in for. Usually, it takes hours for Last Chance Intervention to find the person they are going to help. In Albuquerque, they knew within one hour where they were going to canvass and who they were going to help.

The group ended up helping two people, including a 29-year old man. That man and his father drove from Grants, N.M. just for a chance at the help. Hooked on heroin for the last five years, the man's father tearfully told Action 7 News that they're out of options. Last Chance Intervention offered that as long as the man could get to Phoenix on his own, they would help.

They also picked an Albuquerque woman hooked on meth. Richardson and Bartholomew said they picked her because of how persistent she was for the help. They drove her back the same day and offered her all the help needed to recover from her addiction.

The woman told Action 7 News that she wants people to know that addictions are an illness. She said she doesn't want to be addicted to the horrid drug. She has never wanted help or asked for help before, but explained that she was relieved and happy to be the one chosen to go to Phoenix.

Action 7 News continued to receive phone calls even after Last Chance Intervention left Albuquerque from people wondering how they could get in contact for additional help. The group said that because Albuquerque is the absolute worst drug-ridden city they've ever been to, they plan to return in July and do the same thing.

"It is all up to funding," Richardson said.

He said it typically costs around $2,000 to make a trip to help someone.

While they were here, the group also talked to youth about drug addictions.

"I don't know what we can do to make an impact on the city of Albuquerque, but we want to try," Richardson added.

The group has consistently written on Facebook since returning from Albuquerque, saying that the city touched them so much they want to do everything they can to come back often.

Copyright 2013 byKOAT.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Comments

The views expressed are not those of this site, this station or its affiliated companies. By posting your comments you agree to accept our terms of use.

"Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation" opened to an estimated $56 million at the U.S. box office over the weekend. This total was the second-best "Mission: Impossible" opening ever, just missing out on the $57.8 mil...